Kirill Kaprizov Named NHL’s Third Star of the Month

Following an amazing October, Kirill Kaprizov from the Minnesota Wild was chosen as the NHL’s third star for the month. Connected: Kirill Kaprizov, a potential MVP candidate, achieved a franchise record by earning multi-point games for the seventh time in a row.

The 27-year-old topped the NHL with an average of 2.00 points per game throughout October. He discovered the scores in eight out of the nine games he participated in. His outstanding month of play contributed to the Wild’s strong start of 6-1-2. Following the announcement as the third star of the month, Kaprizov scored two goals and provided an assist in the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Kirill Kaprizov netted two goals in a three-point performance, including a crucial late goal that led to two empty-net goals – the first by Matt Boldy with 3:03 remaining and the second by Kaprizov himself.

“I feel good,” Kaprizov said. “I feel like when you won the games, you feel always good. Everyone in the locker room I think like this.”

In the meantime, Nick Paul of Tampa Bay scored with the goalie off the ice at 17:34, only for Kaprizov to end that comeback with his seventh goal of the season in the final 29 seconds. Kaprizov extended his streak of multi-point games to seven, setting a franchise record.

He also became the first NHL player to reach 20 points this season and the first Wild player to do so in the first 10 games since 2000-01. He joins Mario Lemieux, Thomas Vanek, Connor McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl as the only players to reach 21 points in their first 10 games.

Kirill Kaprizov was a slow starter ?

There has been a belief that Kirill Kaprizov tends to start slowly, a notion that originated in his second year with the Wild when he didn’t score his first goal until the ninth game.

Just two goals in nine games last season fueled the fire.

This year, Kaprizov feared he might start slowly again after the Wild’s first game, a 3-2 victory over Columbus where he only contributed with one assist.

“I feel like first game of the season I was a little bit slow and not what I usually play the game,” Kaprizov said. “Then I just tried to be relaxed and just play my game. Enjoy the game. That’s it.”

Kaprizov reached the nine-game mark this week tied for the top spot in NHL scoring, experiencing the best start of his career, which is reflected in the Wild’s 6-1-2 record. Maybe this show will ultimately put an end to the idea that it starts slowly.

Kaprizov has scored up to 18 points, with an average of two points per game, which is the highest in the league. In the Wild’s third game, Kaprizov was held scoreless for the first time, with the season opener being the only game where he only got one point.

If not, he has scored two or three goals, and his seven games with multiple points are equal to the highest in the NHL.

Should he have another strong performance on Friday against Tampa Bay at Xcel Energy Center, it will be the Wild’s return home after a successful 5-1-1 road trip and he will break the franchise record for consecutive multipoint games with seven.

Image credit Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images